Captain Joel Gentz graduated with honors from Purdue in 2007 with a degree in Aeronautical engineering. He was a member of Air Force ROTC as well as Arnold Air Society, The Order of Iron Key, Old Masters, and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. While attending Purdue he met his wife, Kathryn.
After graduation, Gentz commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He was selected to become a Combat Rescue Officer, the first to ever be selected out of college. After completing Pararescue training, one of the most rigorous training pipelines in the military, he was assigned to the 58th Rescue Squadron, located at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He then deployed to Afghanistan. He performed over 50 hours of combat time. On June 9, 2010, Gentz was killed in action when his helicopter crashed during a rescue mission near Forward Operating Base Jackson.
Brother Steven Lorenz had this to say, “Joel was a brother of Phi Delta Theta at Purdue during his collegiate years. While Joel ultimately served as a Combat Rescue Officer, his initial aspirations were to become an astronaut. He shares fraternal bond with many brothers of Phi Delta Theta across the world as well as at Purdue, a notable brother being Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. Joel embodied the three traits of a Phi Delta Theta brother by maintaining excellence in scholastics, community involvement, and social activity. Every year we are humbled as men of Phi Delta Theta Indiana Theta to race in memory of Joel!”
While he is no longer with us, the memory of Joel Gentz continues to bring us happiness, pride, and honor. Several brothers helped to keep that memory strong by joining us in the Joel Gentz 5K Run this past April.
Registration was $20, and all proceeds went to benefit the Joel Gentz Memorial Scholarship, an annual scholarship awarded to current Air Force ROTC student that best embodies Joel’s spirit.